BANGOR, Maine — With a pair of major concerts set for Wednesday evening, about 20,000 music fans are expected to converge on Main Street and the waterfront, where the Dave Matthews Band and Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band will perform at separate venues.
In the interest of keeping traffic moving, the city’s police and parks and recreation departments offered some advice for those who will be driving in the area.
Ringo Starr will be performing at the Cross Insurance Center, where there is a pre-show lawn party from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Paul Bunyan statue in front of the center. The doors for the concert open at 6:30 p.m.
Tiffany Sun, director of sales and marketing at the Cross Insurance Center, said more than 4,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday afternoon.
Parking for the Cross Insurance Center should be accessed via Buck Street. There is a free parking option, as well as paid parking closer to the building. The Cross Insurance Center can be accessed via Interstate 395 from both the east and the west and exiting onto Main Street.
Just down the street at the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, the Dave Matthews Band show is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., with gates opening at 6 p.m.
Two years ago, the band sold out its Bangor show, concert officials said in a tweet.
While promoter Alex Gray did not reply to an email seeking information about ticket sales, the Waterfront Concert Series’ website notes that the seating capacity is about 16,000. However, the capacity does change depending on the event.
Parking for that venue is available at the Pickering Square parking garage, along the Bangor Waterfront as well as throughout downtown Bangor, city officials said. Parking also is available in several private lots along Main Street.
The Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion can be accessed from the east via U.S. Route 1A through Brewer and across the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge or by I-395 West and exiting onto Main Street. Visitors traveling from I-95 north or south can get to the waterfront via I-395 East.
Parking for both concerts also is available at the Hollywood Casino on Main Street. Those wishing to use the Hollywood Casino garage are encouraged to access that parking via Dutton Street continuing to the hotel side of the casino.
Patrons of either event are encouraged to arrive early and allow additional time to get to either venue. Motorists should anticipate slight delays on Main Street in the area of the Cross Insurance Center and Hollywood Casino.
Adding to the traffic mix will be road construction in the city, Public Works Director Dana Wardwell said Tuesday in a traffic alert.
The Bangor Water District will be replacing a water line on Hammond Street that runs from Court Street to Union Street, he said. Crews will be paving cross trenches that will require the closure of Hammond Street from Ohio Street to Union Street to all but local traffic.
Outbound traffic on Hammond Street will be detoured out Court Street. Local traffic may proceed as far as Ohio Street. Inbound traffic on Hammond Street will be detoured down Cedar Street. The section of Hammond Street that runs between Union Street and Ohio Street will be closed to through traffic, Wardwell said.
Motorists are asked to watch for directions from signs and flaggers.
The city will post traffic alerts and information at www.bangormaine.gov, as well as on its Facebook and Twitter accounts.